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Check
When the King Is Under Attack
A check is a threat, not the end of the game. Unlike checkmate, there is still at least one legal defense.
Whenever you are in check, you have only three types of legal responses: move the king, capture the attacker, or block the check (blocking is only possible against a rook, bishop, or queen).
Examples of Check — and How to Respond
In every position below, the king is in check. Each diagram shows a different legal way to deal with the threat.
1) Move the King to Safety
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White is in check from the rook on the e-file. The defense is to move the king to a safe square (e.g. Kd3).
2) Capture the Checking Piece
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The bishop on c4 gives check along the diagonal to the king. White can simply capture it: Nd2xc4.
3) Block the Check
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A rook gives a file check. White blocks the line by interposing a piece: Ng2–e3.
4) Knight Check (Cannot Be Blocked)
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The knight gives check (there is no “line” to block). White must move the king or capture the knight (here: c3xd4).
5) Capture the Attacker with a Bishop
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The rook on e8 checks the white king. White can capture it with the bishop: Bh5xe8. (Black king is on h8 for full legality/context.)
Check vs Checkmate
A check becomes checkmate when none of the three defenses are available. That is when the game ends.
If at least one legal response exists, it is not checkmate — even if the position looks dangerous.
♟️ Related Concepts
Checkmate
The king is in check and there is no legal move to escape. The game ends.
Stalemate
A draw where the player to move has no legal moves but is not in check.